Prime Minister Narendra Modi came down heavily on the Congress and its allied parties for “insulting” President of India Droupadi Murmu, whose candidature was opposed by Opposition parties in the Presidential elections.

Addressing a rally at Sambalpur in Odisha, the PM said the insult of Murmuji was an insult to all Adivasis and the entire State of Odisha. “I have worked with tribal people and know their plight and difficulties. They (Congress) have always used tribals as their vote banks. However, in the last 10 years, the BJP has been continuously working towards the development of tribals in Odisha and other States,” the Prime Minister said during his Odisha tour. Late in the evening, the PM reached Guwahati, Assam, for a two-day whirlwind tour of the State and to dedicate several projects to benefit the northeastern region.

While assuring the people of Odisha that his party would ensure the development of the State and its people, Modi said the recent Budget provides a guarantee for the development of all sections of society, including youths, women, the poor, farmers, and tribals.

Modi said his guarantee is the ‘guarantee of guarantees, as his Government is the last hope for helpless people across the country.” “Modi’s guarantee means a guarantee of complete fulfillment,” said the Prime Minister.

He added that under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, crores of farmers have received direct benefits, including around 40 lakh in Odisha.

Farmers in Odisha have received Rs 30,000 in their bank accounts under the PM Kisan Yojana, he said. Citing an instance of farmers’ development, Modi pointed out that while the Government prior to 2014 was procuring paddy worth Rs 36,000 crore under the MSP mechanism from Odisha, the present Government has procured paddy worth Rs 1.10 lakh crore from the State. “This is because the BJP is seriously working for the real empowerment of farmers,” Modi said.

Similarly, he said the BJP Government is taking all steps to uplift the fishing community. The Government continues to lay emphasis on improving the lives of fish farmers, he said.

Making his first public rally address in five years in Odisha, Modi also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for projects worth over Rs 68,000 crore in Odisha.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Governor Raghubar Das, and Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Bishweswar Tudu, and Ashwini Vaishnaw were present at the function. Besides inaugurating the Rs 400-crore permanent campus of IIM, Sambalpur, Modi unveiled several infrastructure projects across various sectors such as power, roads, and railways in the state.

Modi had laid the foundation stone for the IIM campus in 2021. After unveiling 18 projects in the state, the prime minister said, “These projects will benefit the youth of Odisha and will create employment opportunities. The Centre is supporting Odisha in every sector.”

The PM also flagged off the Puri-Sonepur-Puri weekly express, which will improve connectivity in the region, and dedicated the Jharsuguda Head Post Office Heritage Building to the nation. He also inaugurated the 412-km Dhamra-Angul pipeline section of the Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra pipeline project (JHBDPL).

Built at a cost of around Rs 2,450 crore under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga,’ the project will connect Odisha with the National Gas Grid.

The PM also said the Central Government is also working towards ensuring increasing household savings with the provision of Rs 10,000 crore for the rooftop solar scheme in the Budget. “With the rooftop solar scheme, people will have zero energy bills,” he said. On women empowerment, the Prime Minister said the Centre also extended the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme to ASHA and anganwadi workers who will get medical care services up to Rs 5 lakh.

Modi late evening reached Guwahati where he was received by Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, State Ministers, and senior civil and police officers. Modi will address a public meeting on Sunday at the Veterinary College Playground in Khanapara, from where many State and Central projects will be unveiled.